As has long been the case, McDonald's
McDonald's January global comps rose a spectacular 7.1%. Even in the tough U.S. market, comps grew a robust 5.4%. In Europe, comps grew 7.1%, and in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa markets, they surged 10.2%.
January was dramatically dismal for many consumer-facing companies, so it probably wouldn't have shocked anybody to see McDonald's show at least a little bit of weakness, but not a chance. Consumers are making it quite clear that they are looking for bargains, and that has helped Wal-Mart
And of course, Starbucks
In a world where so many beaten-down consumer-facing companies are trading at single-digit price-to-earnings ratios, McDonald's may look a bit pricey, trading at 16 times earnings, but it's not too out of whack from rivals Burger King
Of course, companies that are solid defensive plays in this day and age (and showing impressive growth, like McDonald's) are arguably worth premium prices, and McDonald's is also a dividend payer. Investors may want to wait for a little temporary weakness to drive through and get shares of McDonald's, but I continue to believe it's a great stock for long-term portfolios.